Coordinated Water Quality and Water Quantity ... -...
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Coordinated Water Quality and Water Quantity Planning for the Upper Big Blue NRD Carla McCullough NDEQ Nonpoint Source Pollution Coordinator
Transcript of Coordinated Water Quality and Water Quantity ... -...
Coordinated Water Quality and Water Quantity
Planning for the Upper Big Blue NRD
Carla McCulloughNDEQ
Nonpoint Source Pollution Coordinator
Introduction
▪ Several types of joint water management plans are developed between:
– NRDs and NeDNR
– NRDs and NDEQ
▪ Various plans serve specific purposes and have different requirements.
▪ Unique opportunity to coordinate planning efforts in the Upper Big Blue NRD
– Timing, geographic area
– First of its kind in Nebraska
Introduction
Upper Big Blue NRD Planning Initiatives
Plan Name
Water Quality
Management Plan
(WQMP)
Voluntary Integrated
Management Plan
(V-IMP)
Partners NRD, NDEQ NRD, NeDNR
FocusSurface Water and
Groundwater Quality
Surface Water and
Groundwater Quantity
& Hydrologic Connectivity
Authority
Federal Clean Water Act
(319 Nonpoint Source
Pollution)
Nebraska State Statutes
(LB962, 2004; LB764, 2010)
NDEQ - Nonpoint Source Pollution
From landscapes, not pipes
Runoff transports pollutants
Affects lakes, rivers, wetlands and groundwater
Common pollutants are sediment, nitrogen, phosphorus and bacteria
NDEQ - Nonpoint Source Pollution Program
▪ Nonpoint Source Program funded via EPA through the Federal Clear Water Act, Section 319(h).
▪ Nebraska receives annual ‘319’ grant and has 5 years to spend the grant funds.
▪ ~$1.2 million has gone out annually to project sponsors with a 9-Element Water Quality Management Plan OR Alternative.
NDEQ Nonpoint Source Plans
9-Element Plans
Alternative (to a 9-
Element Plan)
Watershed Groundwater Protection
Basin (NRD) Drinking Water Protection
NDEQ Nonpoint Source Plans
9-Element Plans Alternative (to a 9-Element)
Watershed Groundwater Protection
South Loup WatershedBazile Groundwater Management
Plan
Long Pine Creek Watershed
Basin (NRD) Drinking Water Protection
Papio-Missouri Basin Plan Auburn
Lower Elkhorn Basin Plan Waverly
9-Element Watershed Management Plans
1. Identification of Pollutant Sources
2. Estimation of Pollutant Loads
3. ID Best Management Practices
4. Communication & Outreach
5. Implementation Schedule
6. Milestones to Measure Progress
7. Evaluation Criteria
8. Monitoring
9. Technical & Financial Assistance
From Papio-Missouri NRD Draft Plan, Fyra.
NDEQ – Writing Acceptable Plans
NDEQ –Targeted Areas
Water Quality Impairment
Stakeholder InterestHot Spots
NDEQ - Implementing Plan with Projects
Project Implementation Plan (PIP)
Contract signed between NDEQ and Sponsor
Project starts
– Cost-share for BMPs
– Watershed Coordinator
– Evaluate results
Plan PIP Project
NDEQ – Where are we planning?
NDEQ – Plan Implementation
Water Quality BMPs
319
BMPs
Water Quantity BMPs
Integrated Water Management
• Jointly managed ground and surface water uses/supplies
• Recognizes hydrologic connection between ground and surface water
▪ LB962, 2004
– Required joint NRD and NeDNR planning for fully-appropriated basins
▪ LB764, 2010
– Inclusion of voluntary integrated management planning
▪ LB1098, 2014
– Water sustainability fund
▪ Improved ranking for NRDs with IMPs
Integrated Water Management
Governor Johannssigned LB962 into law on April 15, 2004
Integrated Management Plans
Mandated IMP Voluntary IMP
Overarching purpose: Achieve and sustain a balance between water
uses and water supplies for the long term, protect existing water uses
Statutory framework: Neb. Rev. Stat. §46-715 to §46-718
Fully appropriated basins, sub-
basins
Non-fully appropriated basins,
sub-basins
May have more stringent controls May have more “encouraging “
controls
Moratorium (GW, SW) initiated No moratorium initiated
Integrated Management Plans
Coordinated water quality and quantity planning: Challenges
Statutory framework
– Nebraska State Statutes for water quantity
– Federal Clean Water Act for water quality
Timelines
– WQMP has less than 2 years to write/accept plan
NDEQ and EPA reviews for acceptance
– V-IMPs may take 3 to 5 years
NeDNR and NRD agree to adopt
Differing Funding Mechanisms
EPA funding for NDEQ plans
Plan development and project implementation
40% non-federal match
– NeDNR plans
NRD and NeDNR share cost of development &
implementation
Grants available for implementation (WSF, NET, etc.)
Coordinated water quality and quantity planning: Challenges
Stakeholder groups
WQMP has two committees
TAC
CAC
V-IMP typically has one committee
SAC
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
Citizen Advisory
Committee (CAC)
Stakeholder Advisory
Committee (SAC)
Coordinated water quality and quantity planning: Challenges
NDEQ WQMP
NeDNRV-IMP
▪ Improved communication with public and between agencies about multiple water plans
▪ Minimized redundancy in planning efforts
▪ Time/cost savings for NRD
▪ Complimentary goals and objectives between plans
▪ More holistic approach to water management
▪ Great learning opportunity for agencies/NRD
Coordinated water quality and quantity planning: Opportunities
Upper Big Blue WQMP and V-IMP-Coordination Approach
▪ Two separate plans (WQMP, V-IMP)
▪ Separate contracts for consultation services
▪ Common advisors (stakeholders) between plans
▪ NDEQ representative at V-IMP meetings, NeDNRrepresentative at WQMP meetings
▪ Joint NRD, NDEQ, NeDNR coordination meetings throughout process
Upper Big Blue WQMP and V-IMPSo far...
▪ Alternating meetings between WQMP and V-IMP
▪ Committees are the same for both plans
▪ Water Quality and Quantity come up at all meetings.
▪ Agencies are more educated about other plan.
▪ Groundwater is a focus for both plans.
